fired back; firing back; fires back
: to answer someone quickly and usually angrily
After his statement, his opponents fired back.
—often used with atShe fired back at her critics.
: to utter as a quick and angry response
He fired back a comparable insult …—
Drew T. Brown III
Drew T. Brown IIIExamples of fireback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
There’s also a cast iron fireback in the fireplace in the living room.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2022
Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The officer fired back, striking one of the suspects, who then received medical treatment at the hospital.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Tricia McLaughlin fires back on X McLaughlin reposted the statement and tweeted at Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy, who expressed concern about government waste and asked Noem why the department spent $220 million for an ad campaign that featured her prominently.
—Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2026
More than 940 have been killed by Israeli and American strikes, Iranian state media reported, and 11 have died in Israel as Iran fired back.
—Jasmine Green, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
Becerra fired back by reminding voters that Villaraigosa lost a previous bid for governor in 2018.
—Linh Tat, Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Reed fired back, prompting a third person to join the gunfight.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Rahm fired back by saying his comment would make more sense if all 12 players were asked to pay, not just him and Hatton.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed strikes on Israel for the first time in more than a year, and Israel fired back.
—Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
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Noun
The head was followed by bright yellowish-orange tail feathers, easily identifiable as the fireback.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
There’s also a cast iron fireback in the fireplace in the living room.
—Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2022
Verb
The Bruins came firing back, led by Dent, who basically took a blowtorch to the Trojans’ defensive plans.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The officer fired back, striking one of the suspects, who then received medical treatment at the hospital.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Tricia McLaughlin fires back on X McLaughlin reposted the statement and tweeted at Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy, who expressed concern about government waste and asked Noem why the department spent $220 million for an ad campaign that featured her prominently.
—Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2026
More than 940 have been killed by Israeli and American strikes, Iranian state media reported, and 11 have died in Israel as Iran fired back.
—Jasmine Green, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
Becerra fired back by reminding voters that Villaraigosa lost a previous bid for governor in 2018.
—Linh Tat, Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Reed fired back, prompting a third person to join the gunfight.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Rahm fired back by saying his comment would make more sense if all 12 players were asked to pay, not just him and Hatton.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah claimed strikes on Israel for the first time in more than a year, and Israel fired back.
—Cara Anna, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fireback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fireback. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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